<!DOCTYPE html>
<style>
    .columns {
        -webkit-column-count: 2;
        -webkit-column-gap: 0;
        column-fill: auto;
        border: 2px solid black;
        height: 300px;
        line-height: 20px;
    }
    .relative {
        height: 250px;
        position: relative;
    }
    .absolute {
        position: absolute;
        width: 300px;
        background-color: lightgray;
    }
</style>
<div class="columns">
    <div style="height: 250px"></div>
    <div class="relative">
        <div class="absolute">
            This text should be in the first column.<br>
            This text should be in the first column.<br>
            This text should be in the second column.<br>
            This text should be in the second column.<br>
            This text should be in the second column.<br>
            This text should be in the second column.<br>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
